Lavatory accessory

ABSTRACT

Lavatory support accessory comprising a structure to support the user of a lavatory, the accessory having a back piece to support the lavatory lid in the raised position, characterized in that the back piece has a resilient flange or fold to produce interference with the opening movement of the lid in such a way that said flange or fold must be deformed for the lid to make contact with the back piece.

The present invention relates to a lavatory accessory to be used inhomes and public conveniences to facilitate and provide comfort, supportand stability in the act of sitting on and rising from the lavatory.

The accessory according to the present invention is designed to beadapted to the different configurations of lavatories available on themarket. The accessory according to the present invention is alsodesigned to integrate harmoniously in its intended surroundings,incorporating a novel concept of comfort in the use of the lavatory byoffering comfort to the user through the adoption of a correct andnatural posture by supporting the back with the back piece and the armswith the arm rests.

The accessory according to the present invention is designed to allowits use by persons of differing physiques and statures, of any age, evenchildren.

Comfort in an environment is influenced by the user's sensation ofwell-being. This sensation is influenced by the architectural treatmentapplied to the space, and also by the fittings, objects and organizationsystems integrated therein. Bearing in mind the need for integration inorder to achieve the desired comfort, bathrooms are currently receivinghigh levels of attention. This translates not only into the practicalaspects (ease of use, of cleaning etc.) but also quality, functionalityand harmoniousness.

The accessory according to the present invention is intended to beintegrated with the metal parts and other elements of bathrooms, addingaesthetics to these environments.

Document WO 2007/012678 A1, of the present inventor, discloses alavatory support accessory, which allows its retrofitting on lavatoriesthat have already been installed in homes and public spaces. Saidaccessory incorporates ergonomic and aesthetic functions in relation tobathroom surroundings and provides adequate support for the user duringthe phases of sitting on and rising from the lavatory, whilst at thesame time providing comfort during the use thereof.

Said accessory comprises a structure for supporting the user on thelavatory, having a back piece with an anchoring system to fix thelavatory lid and the seat of the lavatory lid when both are in theraised position. This novel anchoring system is characterized in thatthe back piece of the accessory presents a flexible fold to produceinterference with the lifting movement of the lid in such a way that thefold must be deformed for the lid to make contact with the back piece.Since it must be deformed, the fold produces interference whichfacilitates the fixing of the lid when it is raised.

Preferably, the back piece will also have at least a second fold (or,more preferably, a set of two flanges) to produce interference with theseat of the lavatory lid when the latter is raised, in such a way thatsaid second fold has to be deformed for the seat of the lavatory lid tomake contact with the back piece.

The accessory according to the present invention can be connected to anytype of lavatory. To do this, according to another aspect of the presentinvention, the accessory has a thin rectangular steel plate with twoapertures, to allow the seat of the lavatory lid and the accessory to beattached to the lavatory, one of the apertures being circular and theother oblong or grooved, in order to allow adapting adjustments when theholes in lavatories are separated from each other by differentdistances, according to the models available on the market.

The accessory according to the present invention is easily removable andtransportable.

The present invention provides for the possibility of introducing a newconcept in relation to lavatories, the concept of a lid/back piece.Thus, it will be possible to produce lavatory lids which act ascomfortable back pieces, suitable for supporting the back.

For a better understanding, the accompanying drawings are given as anexplanatory but not limiting example of an embodiment of the lavatoryaccessory according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an accessory according to the presentinvention, applied to a lavatory.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of said accessory.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the portions that make up the accessoryof FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a view in front elevation of a back piece of an accessoryaccording to the present invention, in which the anchoring system forthe lid/back piece and the seat of the lavatory lid can be seen.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the back piece with the anchoring system forthe lid/back piece and the seat of the lid.

FIG. 6 is a view in front elevation of the rear of the back piece.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a diagrammatic plan view of a back piece and theinteraction caused by the anchoring system between the lid and the seatof the lavatory lid with the back piece of the accessory.

FIG. 9 is a view in side elevation of an embodiment of the accessory,according to the present invention, in which the tubular structure canbe seen.

FIG. 10 is a view in side elevation of a second embodiment of theaccessory according to the present invention, which has an option ofangling the upper tube upwards by about 45° to prevent interferencebetween the structure of the accessory and the lavatory cistern.

FIG. 11 is a detail of a finishing stopper of the side structures of anaccessory according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a view in detail of a rectangular plate for the connection ofthe accessory to the lavatory and to the seat of the lavatory lidaccording to the present invention, the plate having one oblong orgrooved hole and another round hole.

FIG. 13 is a detailed view of the rear tubular structure of an accessoryaccording to the present invention, useful for lavatories without aconnected cistem.

FIG. 14 is a detail of a rear connection and reinforcement bar of anaccessory according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a detail of the upper portion of a height adjustment screw ofan accessory according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a detail of the lower portion of a height adjustment screw ofan accessory according to the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the upper and lower portions of theheight adjustment screw shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.

The accessory consists basically of curved tubes of a metallic oracrylic material or other material, which may be tubular, cubic orflattened, connected by means of different connections. Said tubes forma structure for supporting the user on a lavatory -100-. When theaccessory is produced in metal, an important object to be achieved, insome preferred embodiments, is to obtain finishes that allow itsintegration with the rest of the metal parts in a bathroom. The deviceconsists of two tubular side structures -30-, -31-, -311-, a rearconnection bar -23-, a rectangular plate -21- for connection to thelavatory, four screws -24-, -25- for the height adjustment of thedevice, two finishing stoppers -26-, a rear tubular structure -22-, anda back piece -1- for supporting the lavatory lid in the raised position,together with different types of nuts and bolts and othercommercial-type connection devices, for example. In a mannercharacteristic of the invention, the accessory shown has a back piece-1- for supporting both the lavatory lid -101- and seat -102- of thelavatory lid when they are raised. To prevent the seat -102- of thelavatory lid when it is raised from falling while the user is using thelavatory, the back piece -1- of the accessory has two sets of two folds-2-, -2′-, -3-, -3′- for attaching the lid -101- and the seat -102-.Moreover, when the lid is anchored, the accessory ensures that the lidremains in the most comfortable position for the user's back. As can beseen in FIGS. 7 and 8, if the lid -101- is to make contact with the backpiece -5-, it must deform the folds -2-, -2′-. When they are deformed,said folds -2-, -2′- prevent the lid from returning to its closedposition. The same applies to the seat -102- of the lavatory lid and thepair of folds -3-, -3′-. In addition, in the example shown, the backpiece -1- has other folds -4-, -4′- for its connection to the structureof the accessory. The accessory may also consist of tubes connected bynuts and bolts or soldered, without preference. Thus, the accessory maybe detachable or not detachable or may be fixed (in the case of solderedtubes, for example). For better performance of the invention, the use oflavatory lids produced in materials with resilient properties and/oroptimized weight may be advisable, although this is not essential toimplement the present invention.

A detail of a preferred embodiment of the rectangular plate -21- forconnecting the accessory to the lavatory and to the seat of the lavatorylid can be seen in FIG. 12. The plate is thin, rectangular and made ofsteel and has apertures -213-, -214- at its ends for its connection witha connection zone -219- of the accessory and two apertures -211- and-212- for its connection in the connection zone of the seat of thelavatory lid -102- to the lavatory -100-. One of the apertures -212- isoblong or grooved, which allows the accessory to be connected todifferent types of lavatory, having different distances between thecentres of the holes.

As can be seen in the figures, each of the structures that forms part ofthe accessory has a curved tube -31- which facilitates the user's tasksof sitting/rising. Said tube may terminate in a straight zone -311- orin an angled zone -312- which provides protection for the cistern oflavatories -100- that have an integrated cistern.

It may also, optionally, have a rear reinforcement bar -23-, althoughembodiments without this bar may, in some cases, be preferable, as theyfacilitate front installation, for example, in the case where thestructure is made up of tubes soldered to each other. In other cases,however, this rear bar provides the functional stability of theaccessory.

Although the invention has been described with regard to examples ofpreferred embodiments, these should not be considered as limiting theinvention, which will be defined by the widest interpretation of thefollowing claims.

1. Accessory for the support of the user on a lavatory, comprising a structure to support the user of a lavatory, the accessory having a back piece to support the lavatory lid in the raised position, characterized in that the back piece has an anchoring system consisting in a resilient fold which causes interference when the lid is raised, in such a way that said fold is deformed so that the lid makes contact with the back piece.
 2. Accessory according to claim 1, characterized in that the back piece has a second resilient fold which causes interference when the seat of the lavatory lid is raised, in such a way that said second fold is deformed so that the seat of the lavatory lid makes contact with the back piece.
 3. Accessory according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a rectangular plate with two apertures to attach the lavatory seat, the lavatory and the accessory, one of the apertures being circular and the other oblong.
 4. Accessory according to claim 2, characterized in that it has a rectangular plate with two apertures to attach the lavatory seat, the lavatory and the accessory, one of the apertures being circular and the other oblong.
 5. Accessory according to claim 1, characterized in that the lavatory support is comprised of two interconnected side structures.
 6. Accessory according to claim 2, characterized in that the lavatory support is comprised of two interconnected side structures.
 7. Accessory according to claim 3, characterized in that the lavatory support is comprised of two interconnected side structures.
 8. Accessory according to claim 4, characterized in that the lavatory support is comprised of two interconnected side structures.
 9. Accessory according to claim 5, characterized in that each of the side structures has a curved tube to support the user during the phases of sitting on and rising from the lavatory.
 10. Accessory according to claim 6, characterized in that each of the side structures has a curved tube to support the user during the phases of sitting on and rising from the lavatory.
 11. Accessory according to claim 7, characterized in that each of the side structures has a curved tube to support the user during the phases of sitting on and rising from the lavatory.
 12. Accessory according to claim 8, characterized in that each of the side structures has a curved tube to support the user during the phases of sitting on and rising from the lavatory.
 13. Accessory according to claim 9, characterized in that said curved tube is angled in the upper portion thereof.
 14. Accessory according to claim 10, characterized in that said curved tube is angled in the upper portion thereof.
 15. Accessory according to claim 11, characterized in that said curved tube is angled in the upper portion thereof.
 16. Accessory according to claim 12, characterized in that said curved tube is angled in the upper portion thereof.
 17. Accessory according to claim 5, characterized in that the two side structures are connected by a bar in the back rear portion thereof.
 18. Accessory according to claim 9, characterized in that the two side structures are connected by a bar in the back rear portion thereof.
 19. Accessory according to claim 13, characterized in that the two side structures are connected by a bar in the back rear portion thereof. 